Rare Irish coins and notes up for auction in London

November 18, 2013

By staff reporter

Almost 350 lots, including many rare items, are to be auctioned by Mayfair auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb in the company’s first-ever specialist sale of Irish Coins, Tokens, Medals and Banknotes, which will be held in London on Thursday, December 5.

They will include one of the earliest notes issued by the Bank of Ireland, a rare example of one of the coins struck by the Lord Justices of Ireland in the mid-17th century and a halfpenny minted more than 800 years ago when the future King John of England was Lord of Ireland.

“Irish currency has a long and fascinating history and we felt that it was time to hold a sale that reflects this,” said Christopher Webb, head of the Coins Department at Dix Noonan Webb, the international coins and medals specialists.

One of the most remarkable lots in the auction is a Bank of Ireland One Pound note (above) issued on 11 January 1813 and numbered 7187. Very little is known about this series which was issued during the Peninsular War and was only in circulation for about three years. It was one of the earliest notes issued by the Bank of Ireland and this rare example is in good condition. It is expected to fetch £3,000 to £4,000.

As the Norman kings of England gradually took over Ireland in the 1170s, John, second son of Henry II and later king himself, was appointed Lord of Ireland and struck coinage. An extremely rare example of a First Coinage Halfpenny minted in Dublin during John’s period as Lord from 1172-1199 is in the Dix Noonan Webb sale. Despite being more than 800 years old, it has a good portrait of John and is estimated at £2,000 to £3,000.

Dix Noonan Webb Ltd is one of the world’s leading specialist auctioneers and valuers of coins, tokens, medals, militaria and paper money of all types. Established in 1990, the company boasts over 250 years’ combined experience in this field and stages regular auctions throughout the year.